Tue, 21 May 2019 18:55:48 -0400WeeblyFri, 06 Oct 2017 12:41:07 GMThttp://www.buildingbrilliantmindsonline.com/building-brilliant-lives/kudos-to-sophieI am calling out SOPHIE this week because she makes my job far too easy! Sophie's version of "Rainbow Crow" left me critique-less. (Yes, I am creating words for her:). All I could put on her paper was "BEAUTIFUL!"

Sophie is a perfect example of "commitment". She commits to her assignments to the point that "rough drafts" easily become final papers. (Yet, she does not complain when a rough draft needs a few more spices :).

She puts in the time for her writing to shine!

Sophie: "You are a SUPERSTAR WRITER!"

Many Smiles,Mrs .G.]]>Fri, 22 Sep 2017 11:59:18 GMThttp://www.buildingbrilliantmindsonline.com/building-brilliant-lives/call-out-to-my-writersI just wanted to call out all of my writing students this week.

Fantastic Writing!

Your commitment to your writing lessons has been noted! You are each on the path to becoming clear communicators!

Short story:One of my student's mothers introduced me to 'simply music'. That evening, I pursued the Simply Music's website with so much excitement that I could not gobble up the information quickly enough. After deciding that the method of play based lessons over reading based lessons is something that is right up my alley, I dove in and am now a licensed simply music piano teacher.

​Within a week, my three youngest, who were brand new to the piano, were each playing the first three songs with both hands!). Their excitement with their own progress was priceless. It is so exciting to share this same experience with other children and parents who never thought that they would learn to just sit down and play. (In a year, students typically learn 35-50 piano pieces from classical, to blues to accompaniment.) I am out of my skin thrilled to be part of the 'simply music' team.

I will say more, but I have never seen a piano program that produces a musical repertoire with the quantity and quality that Simply Music does for it's students. It is a breakthrough in how music is taught and IT IS FUN!

For me, the play based method using shapes, diagrams and patterns brings my music and dance connections with art and architecture full circle. It is just out of this world EXCITING!

For more information, on how your student can be playing to their hearts content, by the end of the school year, just shoot me an email:).

Hi! I am calling out Dallin this week! He is one of my new and promising students this year! Dallin's work shows that not only has he been practicing, but that he has been gifted with some natural talents!

I point out his sketching for Introduction to Architecture - Lesson 1 this week to emphasize the benefit of using darker/thicker lines when sketching something that is in front of something else. The closer the object is to you, the darker the outline. Yet, as Dallin's examples show, he blends the dark outline into the shadowing and shading of the object. This allows his sketches to "pop" off the page! Very impressive work!

Do you have one of those kids who is head strong and insists on their own way despite the directions? They can be a challenging bunch, but often those creative thinkers are the visionaries among us. I have a handful (or two) of creative kids... it is hard not to think outside the box when your mom will not stay in one long enough to let you get comfortable. Our youngest, who is growing up with ten other perspectives, continues to surprise. Before we left for vacation, she entrenched herself with Zoo Design - Mia's way. We had paper habitats all over our schoolroom and paths to follow to see the animals.. based on a map of a park we were going to visit.

​On the first day of our vacation, she received a plastic cup. One glance at her cup and her mind clung to an idea. When we get home, I am to provide her with brown paper to make a "fawn". Two days later, she is still thinking about it her future project and shows great excitement with her new idea of adding green trees for her "fawn". She will not forget this. When we get home (10 days later) this project will be the first on her list of things to do. I am afraid, I better have Amazon deliver the paper to those at home so it is ready for her when we return. When, she is finished, I will post photos of her work for you.

My suggestion today is to encourage you to support your "outside the box" thinkers. If possible, provide for them what they need for their visions to take form. If they "must" go with their thoughts before anything else can possibly happen.. let them fly. More often than not, the Holy Spirit might be spurring them on to seek something that they "need". I have learned over the years, that yes, there is a time for rules, direction and order, but when it does not hurt anyone, the chaos of allowing those creative types to just create may teach them more than any curriculum or educational plan could. A little brown paper (hmm.. and perhaps some intriguing, "selected" books just laying on a table) or even a free plastic cup from a restaurant may save you a bunch of stress and money as opposed to trying to fit your creative, visionary, head strong child into the box:). And bonus, those headstrong kids are often the ones that may stay committed to the true path as long as their needs to safely push the limits through exploration and design have been met in safe environments with encouragement and support along the way. You never know, you might just have the next visionary genius under your wing:).

Blessings and Smiles,​Mrs. G.

]]>Fri, 25 Aug 2017 11:56:03 GMThttp://www.buildingbrilliantmindsonline.com/building-brilliant-lives/call-out-to-my-thespiansI have to call out the twenty thespians who participated in the Building Brilliant Minds Homeschool Co-op last year!

After intense studies in Art, Architecture, and IEW writing, which each centered around Ancient History, these students concluded the year with a fantastic performance of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolored Dreamcoat"!

"Learning with a Purpose", they created the sets, costumes and props for the musical . They drew and painted this 12' x 12' King Tut backdrop! One of the hits of the show!

I am so proud of their efforts and attitudes. They earned over $500 for the Radiance Foundation while having a blast!